Open AccessPharmacokinetics of methotrexate administered by intramuscular and subcutaneous injections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Brooks Paul J.,
Spruill William J.,
Parish Roy C.,
Birchmore Daniel A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780330112
Subject(s) - methotrexate , rheumatoid arthritis , pharmacokinetics , medicine , intramuscular injection , subcutaneous injection , route of administration , arthritis , pharmacology , antifolate , anesthesia , antimetabolite
The serum concentrations and the pharmacokinetics of low‐dose methotrexate (MTX) were compared after both intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SQ) injections in 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Values for the observed peak concentration, the time to the observed peak concentration, and the area under the time versus concentration curve for IM injections were not significantly different from these values for SQ injections. These results suggest that IM and SQ are interchangeable routes of administration. SQ administration may be a more convenient and less painful way of administering low‐dose MTX.